How are the GEC Fixed blades?

I have a 73 upswept point and a 23 drop point. These are great hunting knives. They get scary sharp and are easy to sharpen. The shape of these blades are old patterns used by hunters and trappers when people needed knives for their food. I highly recommend them.


Geoff
 
joeradza said:
Plus it's a bit of overkill for a single man cooking for himself.
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Just re-reading my own post and did I say overkill? I think I meant to say I’d kill for one. Haha. A tortoise shell GEC fixed blade is proper anywhere! Now to find one.
 
I buy GEC folders because they make the patterns I want at a decent quality/price point. I compromise on the steel. I'd much rather have some tasty carbon steel like CPM-M4 or a good stainless. When it comes to fixed blades, there's no need to settle. So I don't. I have no GEC fixies and no plans to buy any. (Yes, I do know that at least one is available in 440C, but I did say good stainless.)
 
I enjoy collecting pocket-knives. That said, I also enjoy collecting fixed blade knives.
I own one fixed blade knife from Queen Cutlery, and one from GEC's Tidioute line. I bought them both only because I wanted to have fixed blade representations from these mostly pocketknife making companies.
With Queen now gone, I'm very glad I made the decision to pick up one of their fixed blade knives.
Truth is, neither of them excite me much, but I still like having them in my collection :)


 
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Update: My chestnut H73 was used on two deer this fall. It met my expectations with its performance. No it's not a super steel but I appreciate being able to easily touch up the edge on a pocket stone. I did make my own slim pouch sheath for it.
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One thing I just noticed, based on seeing the other GEC company made fixed blade knives shown above... Mine has a rectangular shield on the opposite side from the Tidioute etched blade. I guess since the blade Etching reads Tidioute, and the handle scale shield reads Tidioute, they probably saw it as being redundant if all on the same side.
 
There are three main types - hunters, sportsmans and their utility series and odds and ends. I have a few of each and recommend the H73 series. These are very well designed, lovely in the hand and very functional.

However, when it comes to knives that may be used for meat or food prep I prefer stainless. I also think the sheath is far too bulky for a knife that is on the smaller side.

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I have an H20 that I like. Its a nice little user. Mine is the clip point. But...Id suggest a Hess. My Hess Whitetail is a much better knife/sheath than the GECs Ive seen.
 
Bringing this thread back up as I just got a third one of their 440C Bowies, two minis and one #50 @ 8.35" OAL.

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I'm not sure why they changed, but all GECs with the acorn shield used to be 440C. Recently some of the fixed blades have an acorn shield but are 1095, so stated on the tubes and by the "Ironworks" stamp on the tangs. You can't just go by the acorn any longer.
 
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